Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Modi's 'selfie diplomacy' moves to Mongolia

May 17, 2015 14:42 IST

PM Modi clicks a selfie with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. Photograph: PMO/Twitter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose selfie with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang grabbed eyeballs across the globe, on Sunday, extended his 'selfie diplomacy' to Mongolia by clicking one with President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

Modi, who has a penchant for clicking selfies with leaders on foreign tours, continued the trend in Mongolia by clicking a selfie with President Elbegdorj when he called on him.

"President @elbegdorj and I say hello!" Prime Minister Modi tweeted along with the picture which had the two leaders sporting wide smiles.

Elbegdorj also posted the selfie on his Twitter account with the message, "My first selfie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

The Mongolian president also retweeted a Press Information Bureau tweet of three photographs of the two leaders clicking the selfie.

This image was the two leaders was posted on MEA on Twitter

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted a picture of Modi and Elbegdorj while they were taking the selfie.

"A lesson in selfie diplomacy. President Elbegdorj gets tips from. PM," Swarup tweeted along with the snap.

Modi had signed off from Beijing on Friday with a 'selfie' clicked with Li, his counterpart from China where leaders are conservative with regard to social media.

The iconic selfie taken by Modi with Li was hailed by the western media as one of the most "power-packed selfie in history".

Modi, who was on a three-day tour of China last week, also clicked selfies with young children who were learning yoga at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

The Indian leader is social media savvy. Last year, during his trip to Australia, Modi posted a selfie with his "friend" and Australian counterpart Tony Abbott. The selfie signed by the two leaders was taken at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.